Crystal Palace edged closer to a Conference League playoff spot with a convincing 3-0 win over Shelbourne at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Despite being without several key players, including star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles fielded a largely second-string lineup that still managed to dominate possession.
It was Nigerian forward Christan Uche who broke the deadlock in the 11th minute with an excellent finish into the far corner after being set up by Daichi Kamada's clever pass. Former Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah then sealed the victory for Palace two minutes later, tapping home from a yard out after Uche had struck the post.
Shelbourne, who finished their domestic season last month, were no match for the Eagles' attacking flair. Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to avoid being booked for aggressive challenges on Yeremy Pino before Chris Richards struck the crossbar with a corner kick.
The game was effectively over as a contest by the 38th minute, when Palace's Adam Wharton and Kamada were withdrawn at halftime in favor of Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma, and Romain Esse. The latter almost scored on his debut but saw his shot blocked before being gratefully cleared by Dutch goalkeeper Wessel Speel.
Uche had another chance to score seconds later but was unable to hit the target, revealing that he still has some work to do to live up to expectations. Despite this, it was a welcome sight for Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who was hopeful that his Nigerian striker would follow in the footsteps of other fringe players who impressed on their first starts.
The win marked Shelbourne's first European campaign and capped off an impressive night for Palace, who will now look to secure a playoff spot with their next match against KuPS.
It was Nigerian forward Christan Uche who broke the deadlock in the 11th minute with an excellent finish into the far corner after being set up by Daichi Kamada's clever pass. Former Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah then sealed the victory for Palace two minutes later, tapping home from a yard out after Uche had struck the post.
Shelbourne, who finished their domestic season last month, were no match for the Eagles' attacking flair. Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to avoid being booked for aggressive challenges on Yeremy Pino before Chris Richards struck the crossbar with a corner kick.
The game was effectively over as a contest by the 38th minute, when Palace's Adam Wharton and Kamada were withdrawn at halftime in favor of Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma, and Romain Esse. The latter almost scored on his debut but saw his shot blocked before being gratefully cleared by Dutch goalkeeper Wessel Speel.
Uche had another chance to score seconds later but was unable to hit the target, revealing that he still has some work to do to live up to expectations. Despite this, it was a welcome sight for Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who was hopeful that his Nigerian striker would follow in the footsteps of other fringe players who impressed on their first starts.
The win marked Shelbourne's first European campaign and capped off an impressive night for Palace, who will now look to secure a playoff spot with their next match against KuPS.
!!! They totally dominated the game and it was amazing to see Christan Uche score like that 
! Daichi Kamada's pass was pure genius 
! And can we talk about Eddie Nketiah's tap-in goal? 
It was so easy for him, but still a great confidence boost for Palace. I'm loving their attacking flair and it's awesome to see players like Uche and Kameron Ledwidge making a difference. They're definitely in with a chance of making the playoff spot now 
!
I'm not sure about this one... Crystal Palace looked pretty dominant out there, but it's hard not to worry that they're fielding so many youngsters in key positions. Daichi Kamada is super talented, but can he deliver the goods consistently? And what's with the injuries to their main players? It's like the gods are conspiring against them 
. Still, a win is a win and it's always great to see Palace fans excited about their team's prospects. Maybe we'll get to see some real growth from this squad soon 
️
. For Palace fans, this win will be a huge confidence booster before their next match against KuPS... let's hope they can keep the momentum going 
!
christan uche is giving me life though, his finish was insane 
and eddie nketiah is just a clinical finisher, you know? 
it's like he's playing both sides of the court, you feel? and i thought palace was gonna struggle without mateta and muñoz, but turns out they can just roll w/ a bunch of subs? 
but seriously, shelbourne got served hard, maybe they should just focus on the league next season? 
! I love how they dominated possession even without some of their key players 
. I've got to say, Daichi Kamada's pass was pure magic 
. The fact that Eddie Nketiah tapped it home so easily after Uche hit the post was just ridiculous 
. Christan Uche's goal was absolute perfection - what a finish! 
And Eddie Nketiah's tap-in was almost too easy for him 
. The team's attacking flair is just so exciting to watch, and I'm loving how they're giving young players like Romain Esse some chances to shine 
. Only thing that would make this win even better is if Uche can build on his impressive debut and start scoring regularly soon 
!
I'm loving Glasner's tactics, bringing in different subs at halftime to mix things up. And hey, it's not like they were playing with a full squad... still, that's some quality football right there! 
. Palace could've had like, five more goals if they didn't make some key subs at halftime, but instead, they get a boost from Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma. It's all about adaptability and trust in each other, right? And hey, it's awesome to see Christan Uche finally break through with a goal – he's still workin' on his game, just like we all are 
️. And Daichi Kamada's pass was so clever, it made the goal look easy 
christian uche's goal was insane, daichi kamada set him up perfectly 
. But on the bright side, Uche is gonna get some more minutes and show us what he's made of - fingers crossed! And can we talk about Kamada? That guy's a magician 
, setting up goals left and right. Palace is looking like a playoff contender for sure, and I'm hyped 
. Who else wants to see them take on KuPS?
they played so well without all those top players, it just shows how strong the squad is. christan uche is such a beast , his finish was insane 
they're like totally dominating everything on the pitch & still managed to come out on top despite bein missing some key players 
eddie nketiah sealed the deal with ease & it's so great 2 see palace finally gettin back on track 
coach oliverglasner must b doin somethin right 
anywaaaay, this win's got palace fans hyped & we can't wait 2 c what they do against kuops nxt! 
. It's not going to be easy, but if they keep performing like this, I think they've got a real shot at it 
Just saw that there's been another record-breaking heatwave in India, with temperatures reaching 45°C in some areas! Like, what is going on?! 
And I'm already stressing about the climate crisis... anyway, back to Crystal Palace - they're doing alright but can't help thinking that it's crazy how one player (Uche) has to work so hard just to get noticed 
.